Friday, August 11, 2017

THE ONES THAT POPE FRANCIS CASTIGATES AS THINKING THEY ARE PERFECT CATHOLICS, DO THEY REALLY?

Pope Francis, while claiming "who am I to judge" is one of the most judgmental popes we have had in my memory. Sometimes his language in Italian is tongue in cheek, but to know this, you have to listen and watch him as he speaks. When you read his remarks, it is a different thing.

But he castigated, I think, traditional Catholics because they think they are perfect. But is that really the case with them? Is His Holiness misinformed or mean spirited? I didn't hear him say this in Italian or therefore watch his facial expressions and arm gestures, although in reading what His Holiness said, His Holiness may have used an unbecoming finger gesture toward these "perfect" Catholics. But who knows?

Kathy Pluth from the Chant Cafe has an interesting observation which in my own experience is quite true:

Early this century I worked as the Saturday evening cantor at a little
parish, with some fun extra duties besides, like giving days of
recollection to liturgy volunteers.

An elderly priest, retired then and long since passed away, used
routinely to take the Saturday evening Confessions. He would stop in my
office where I was usually working on some flyer or another, and as he
put unrolled his purple stole he would complain about how perfect all
the parishioners are, since they never go to Confession. Always at
Communion--never in the confessional.

This is not what one sees in parishes with the Extraordinary form, or
even with a more solemn and careful celebration of the Ordinary form. In
those parishes, people know they are sinners. You can tell they know
because the lines for Confession are long every week, and in very devout
parishes, every day.

In contrast, those attending more casual celebrations of the Mass might
go for years on end without even hearing anything whatsoever about the
sacrament of Confession, apart from the announcement twice a year that
Advent and Lenten penance services will be held next Tuesday at 7:30.

I once worked at a parish that had 21 scheduled times every week for
Confession, and people came. The priests would leave as soon as the line
ended, so it was important for people to show up on time. There were 4
times each Friday. One popular time was before one of the Sunday Masses.
And the lines were very long on Saturday evenings, and every priest was
scheduled.

Once upon a time, when cars had bumpers, there was a bumper sticker that
said, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven." Wouldn't it be
wonderful to see a revitalized use of the sacrament of mercy throughout
the Church!

It seems to depend entirely on the pastor. A local suburban church offers confessions 2 hours weekly, which presumably suffices. Its previous pastor scheduled confession at that much plus after or before every weekend Mass. In addition, he went into the confessional after each First Friday morning Mass, and generally stayed there all day until perhaps 7 pm with only a brief bathroom break, with a line of waiting penitents all day.

The parishes in my area have "Reconciliation Rooms" located in chapels. The "Reconciliation Rooms" are not even marked as such. They are just doors in wall. They appear to lead into closets...supply closets.

It is unbelievable that one parish after another near me is devoid of visible confessionals.

The Holy Sacrament of Penance is...out of sight...therefore, out of mind.

Followers

About Me

”The views expressed on this
social network are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my bishop or the Diocese of Savannah.” Comments that I post do not necessarily reflect my views or the views of the Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah.
I am a priest of the Diocese of Savannah ordained in 1980 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. I am currently the pastor of Saint Anne Church in Richmond Hill, Georgia. I am the former Director of Vocations from 1986 to 1998 and former Director of Liturgy and Diocesan Master of Ceremonies from 1985 to 1991.